THE IDEA:
During lockdown I discovered the world of PDF sewing patterns. There is a huge, international community of home sewers on Instagram and TikTok. They showcase the clothes they made. Share how they adapted the patterns to improve the shape and design. Give each other tips on fabric selections and construction techniques. And some of them start designing and selling their own PDF patterns. It was fun, and low stakes - and I wanted in.
STASHED STUDIO
THE WORK:
In 2023, I had a sewing pattern published in TAUKO, a Helsinki-based independent sewing magazine with a global readership and a genuine editorial curation process. The pattern, SHORELINE, was designed and digitally drafted entirely from scratch. I taught myself digital pattern cutting to make it happen.
Not satisfied with a pattern published in a magazine, I explored what it would look like to build a creative business around it. So I developed stashed studios.
THE OUTCOME:
I developed a simple pattern, instructions to go with it and a sketchbook to get their creativity going. There was a logo system. Brand guidelines (for a team of one). A very short-lived a Substack. Even a Spotify playlist.
But Stashed studio never went live. But
LOGO DESIGN
WORKBOOK & IMAGE STASH
The idea was to not just sell digital sewing patterns, but offer design know-how to go with it. Conventional sewing patterns give you instructions on what fabric to use… but it they typically don’t explain why.
I wanted to create something that would make every user feel like a designer. I wanted them to use one pattern to make 5 x different variations. So I developed the ‘Image Stash, which would help demonstrate how different fabrics would affect how the skirt would hang. How small changes could affect the look and feel of it.
THE IMAGE STASH
THE WORKBOOK
THE STASHED STACK
It was 2023. All the cool kids were doing it.
Doing a Substack really stems from my frustration that so many have great ideas.. but the visuals are a bit limited. So this was a bit of a challenge to explore ways of making Substack feel a but more interesting and editorial.
